Shloka 22

Droṇa’s Ācārya-Dakṣiṇā: Capture of Drupada and Division of Pāñcāla (द्रोण-आचार्यदक्षिणा)

Devanagari script

प्रहारवेगाभिहता द्रुमा व्याघूर्णितास्तत: । सफलाः: प्रपतन्ति स्म द्रुतं त्रस्ता: कुमारका:,उनके वेगपूर्वक प्रहारसे आहत हो वे वृक्ष हिलने लगते और उनपर चढ़े हुए धृतराष्ट्रकुमार भयभीत हो फलोंसहित नीचे गिर पड़ते थे

Transliteration

prahāravegābhihatā drumā vyāghūrṇitās tataḥ | saphalāḥ prapatanti sma drutaṁ trastāḥ kumārakāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana sprach: Von der Wucht der Schläge getroffen, begannen die Bäume heftig zu schwanken. Da stürzten die Prinzen—von Angst gepackt—rasch hinab, mitsamt den Früchten. Die Szene zeigt, wie tollkühne Aggression und Einschüchterung selbst Spiel oder Kraftprobe in Schaden verkehren können und dabei Furcht und Unbeständigkeit offenbaren statt wahrer Tapferkeit.

Word by Word

प्रहारवेगाभिहताःstruck by the force of blows

द्रुमाःtrees

व्याघूर्णिताःviolently shaken/whirled

ततःthen/thereupon

सफलाःwith fruits (fruit-laden)

प्रपतन्तिfall down

स्मindeed/used to (particle with past narrative sense)

द्रुतम्quickly

त्रस्ताःfrightened

कुमारकाःyoung princes/boys

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

drumāḥ (trees)

kumārakāḥ (princes; Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons implied by context)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Force used carelessly becomes destructive and exposes inner fear rather than strength; intimidation and impulsive aggression lead to immediate harm and instability, contrasting with dharmic self-control.

What is happening in the narrative?

Trees are struck with powerful blows and shake; the frightened princes who were on them fall down quickly, along with the fruits, as described by Vaiśampāyana.